Boss who gets the Blues

Roberto Martinez relishes the prospect of his in-form Everton side winning at Anfield for first time since 1999

Roberto Martinez is making a positive impression at Everton (SIMON STACPOOLE)

A KNOCK on the dressing-room door surprised the players. What happened
next astounded them. The youth team of a League One club had played Wigan’s
Under-21s in a training-ground game. At the away dressing-room door
stood Roberto Martinez.

After asking humbly if he might enter, Martinez shook hands with every
youngster, thanked each of them for coming and told them his team had been
honoured to compete against a side who represented themselves so well on the
pitch. “All of you, you’re always welcome here,” he said. The players left
feeling like Messis, like millionaires. If that is the effect Martinez can
have on opponents, to what heights might his bright-eyed ways inspire his
own men?

Everton approach Anfield on Tuesday in a good league position, with a good
team, in good form. They have done that before — yet not won at the stadium
since 1999. That Evertonians, a sceptical lot, now believe a change might be